Former top Vatican official calls on Pope to resign amid abuse crisis | Reuters

'DUBLIN/BOSTON (Reuters) - A former top Vatican official accused Pope Francis of having known of allegations of sex abuse by a prominent U.S. cardinal for five years before accepting his resignation last month and he called on the pontiff to resign. '

'Vatican officials declined immediate comment on Sunday on the statement, which was published by the National Catholic Register and several other media outlets in the United States and Italy. '

'Vigano said he had told Francis in June 2013, just after he was elected pope by his fellow cardinals, about the accusations against McCarrick. '

' On Saturday he said the corruption and cover-up of abuse amounted to human excrement, according to victims. '

'He was one of the highest-ranking church officials accused of sex abuse in a scandal that has rocked the 1.2 billion-member faith since reports of priests abusing children and bishops covering up for them were reported by the Boston Globe in 2002. '